May 10, 2010

So, this is what the Cabinet of Philosopher-Rulers looks like now that all the votes have come in. As you can see, the list proves that, in philosophy, seriousness and a sense of fun can happily co-exist. You will also see that I decide to be inclusive re. who can count as a philosopher. Most of the philosophers who won Cabinet places also received nominations for other posts:

Prime Minister: J.S.Mill easily beat off Spinoza.

Home Secretary: Hume clinched it over Voltaire and Hobbes

Chancellor: Aristotle narrowly defeated Marx

Foreign Secretary: de Beauvoir fended off Burke and Machiavelli

Defence: Russell (the dove beat off hawk and military theorist von Clausewitz)

Education: Socrates romped home on this one. Rosa Luxembourg was his nearest rival

Arts and Culture: Zizek (the only living philosopher to make the Cabinet)

Industry: Adam Smith narrowly defeated Marx

Work and Pensions: Marx finally made it here

Science: Hypatia defeated David Armstrong

Attorney General: Rawls beat off Locke and Foucault

Health: Nietzsche edged out Heraclitus. Interesting choice ...

Sport: Camus' footballing prowess gained him victory here

Agriculture: Aquinas

Environment: forest fan Heidegger

Chief Whip: Wittgenstein - perhaps as a result of alleged poker-wielding confrontation with Popper?

Transport: Zeno. Of course.

Women's Affairs: Kant - who would, I am sure, be delighted at the news.